The recycling world is bracing itself for a virtual tidal wave of spent lithium iron phosphate electric vehicle batteries. We urgently need an environmentally healthy way to extract their key materials, and find a use for what remains. Distinguished Professor Deyang Qu of University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee Mechanical Engineering, has found a way to convert spent batteries to commercial fertilizer.
Lithium Ions From Spent Batteries With Ion Exchange
The first step in Prof Qu’s process uses ion-exchange to recover lithium ions from spent lithium iron phosphate batteries. This is a well-established method, that displaces certain ions with other ions carrying the same electrical charge.
The remaining key materials, iron and phosphate, are micro nutrients essential for plant growth. Iron is common in some fertilizers, where darker green lawns and leaves confirm its effectiveness.
Phosphate, for its part, boosts crop yields and improves plant health generally. Other less-important materials in used lithium iron phosphate batteries, include phosphorus and nitrogen. Phosphorus plays an important role in photosynthesis and plant cell division.
And finally, nitrogen is essential for protein, nucleic acid, and chlorophyll production. We are amazed how much plant food is in lithium iron phosphate batteries, when someone like Prof Qu looks.
Benefits of Using Old Batteries for Commercial Fertilizer
“Right now it costs more to recycle these batteries than the value of what we recover,” Prof Qu explains. “But if we can turn those elements into fertilizer, we not only reduce waste. We also support agriculture in Wisconsin and beyond.”
“There are only two options to deal with this kind of waste,” the Prof continues: “Either the manufacturers, or the government, will have to pay to dispose of the waste. That’s what inspired us to look for an economically sustainable way.”
Converting spent batteries to commercial fertilizer, makes a good deal of sense to us. We are aware that Canada and the United States both import many mineral deposits for making fertilizers. Pro Qu has plans in hand to produce enough material for a one-acre tomato crop trial, as soon as he gets the backing!
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